My Book on the History of Taxes in the Pacific Northwest

Labor unions were significant in Seattle’s history in the early 20th century. When I was researching my dissertation on tax history in the Pacific Northwest, I met many people who were in the labor movement from the time of the Seattle General Strike and into the 1960s. Along with Grange members, each gave me helpful tips. An income tax initiative, written by officers of the Washington State Grange (and supported by many unions), passed in Washington with 70 percent voter support in 1932, but the State Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional the following year. The farmer groups and labor unions formed a coalition for a constitutional amendment in 1934, but with New Deal reform measures making strides, Washington voters didn’t